Vacuum electric furnace.



No. 84,'726. PATBNTED MAR. 13, 1906. H. N. POTTER.

VACUUM ELECTRIC PURNACB.

APPLwATxoN FILED JULY za. was.

' s SHEETS-SHEET 1 Witnesses Y 1- anton 55M 4 Mp M m @3513 Hornu lh.

PATENTED MAR. 13, 1906.

H, N. PTTERY VAUUM ELEGTRIG FURNAGE.

APPLIGTIOH FILED JULY 23, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 rrrrr l No. 814,726. I PATBNTED MAR. 13, 1906 H. N. POTTER. VACUUM ELECTRIC FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEETS UNITED STATES PATE Ni* (nunon.

HENRY NOELV POTTER, F New ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, AssioNoR To GEORG-E WESTINGHOUSE, 0F Pirrsnono, PnNNsYLvANiA.

'aouum ELI-:orme annonce.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 13, 1906.

Appunti@ sin July-canoa. sein no. 165,567.

'To m55 whom it may concern:

Beit known that I: HENRY N om. POTTER, e 'citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Rochelle in the count Voi' Westchester and State of New York, ave invented lcertain new' and useful Im rovements in Vacuum Electric Furnaces, o which the following is a specification.

The present invention is designed for highly 'lheating refractory materials under reduced of my rna'ce.

The main fgureof the drawings illustratesaverticalfuxjnaee; but there isno reason other is than Vthat .of convenience Wh the furnace should' notzroeeupy a horizonte or an aligns {lsu-V sinon.

. efer'ring first to Fig. 1, the numerall re resentsa eenduetiY rod made of some highl; refractory materi The part here.repre-v sented as' a tube might bea red ofany preferrederosssection,usual round. In moet thisrod or tube wil be of carbon or graphite, preferablyfthe latter, owing to the 3i not that it 1s easierV to make good termi 'al' 'graiplhite than with o ier V.forms of carbon. e vport-1', however might be made of iridium, which wouldrhe 'o advantage infeeijtnnclasses of work, as when 4Q; the furnace is"used'for roastin the muere of .fliernst'larnps and the like. r e tu shown V eenstitutes the core of the furnace, the instelf Atthends of't etube 1 are arten ed :bioefszandfof graphite or otY 'er p .wetenmnai 'hl ks; turn make 'contact metallic andi'ywhioh are h" ligure is repreis :twigs-rotin .d to `fit a rounded o in lertsrrunm block. Y

" onstg'getipn isiillustreted which connections With/ bnarranged aroumitheL refractory material.

Vscrews 12 12', a copper lead `plate 14 being ettaohed by similar means to Yter-jacket and is just l upzhver.terminal by, resti is. adapted to supply a good terminal connection between the core l, when it is tubular in form, and the block 3. In this construction the lower end ofthe c ore is fitted with e solid rounded end block 2, which makes contact directly with the re actory terminal block 3. 6o A vent-hole 130 is shown as ,passing through the tube 1, and as an alternative arrangement. a vent-hole 140 (shown in Fig. 5) a pears as passingthrough the end block l2. gli Will be understood that similar terminal connections may be made between the rod er tube 1 Aand the upper refraetor terminal block 2. The contact-surfaces in oth instances are ground to a goed fit, and by reason of the formation of cavities in the'bloeks 2 and 3 allo wanee can 7o be made for sli ht errors in alini the core 1 exactly paraile to the axis of gie furnace. In case the block 3, for exam le, is shifted slightly to the right or to the le t, no disturb ance of the relative area of contant between .the parteJ 1 and 3 or the parts l and 2 will take place. 'The contacting parts are of Aeellot-te shape, as will be seen.

The contacted end 5 are surrounded by water-jackets and 7, the former being pro- 8o vided with inlet and outlet tubes 8 and 9, and

the latter with similar tubes 10 and 11.

To the under Aside of the block 5 is irmlyrattached, preferably by both soldering and by plate 13, asimilar thetop of the bioeir 4. l A uliarity of the upper terminal structure is'that it has a thin-walled cylindrical metal tube 15, which extends beyond the wa- 9o e enough to slip over-the body 16 of the mace to be described-later on. Another peculiarityis that .the entire terminal structure is supported upon several screws, two of at 17 i?. These screws pass through an nppenextension 'i8 of the box inclesing the water-iacket 6 and'suppo'r't the weight-of the upon brackets 19,- ol are firmly attache I fur-nace by bolts or othermeans. l round the thin tube' 15 and the upperpart of the furnaee-body 16 is d rawn'aJubber band 20, I Whieh'prevents the ingressof aiiat this point, but permits thetermma'l 4 tobemoved -axi-ro ally to correspond tor varyinglengths of the core 1. Y Y The body `of.the,furnaee consists of the which are shown to the bodyof the roo double called tube 16, having an annular in seals for preventing the leakage olf air or water space El and provided with an inletot ier gases.

tube 2i und an outlet-tube 23. The block 4- The arrangement of water-circuits for ci il. profani with an opening, as shown at 24, fectrn the coolm of the furnace-jacket conV 5 and ii i also fitted at the top with a serewsists o flexible tu in connected to a source zo thread lirroccive the end of a tube 25, which of running water an joined to the tubes 8, passes tlnrougli the ulate 14 and into the 22,' and 11. The source of waterfsup lyis )loch 4, as shown. he opening 24 is of the shown in Fig. 6, at V50, as being supplie with saine bore as that ot the tube 25 and forms a pipes 51 and 52, which are provided with 'lo continuation ofthe tube down to the bottom cocks 53 and 54, res ectively.;` From theA 75 of the block. At this point I make a groove cock 53 a pipe 55 lea s to the inlettube 9, or channel 26, opening into the space beconducting to the water-jacketof the cover` tween thol up er end of the .main furnace- The exit takes place through the tube 8 and tubo and the )lock 4 or the extended lower thence through a tube 56 to the inlet-pipe 22 i5 walls thereof. The tube 25 is for connection of the body water-jacket 21. The water 8o to the var-uumpump, and it also has the then passes out lirough the exit-pipe 23, function of allowing air tore'ent-er the furnace which is so arranged esto'draw Water from l upon the completion of' the run. In case the the highest practicable oint in the said core is made tubular the block 2 may also be jacket. It then passes, t omgh a. connectzo perforated, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to ingipe 57 to the sewer shown at 58. It will 85 connect the opening in the block 4 with the be o served ,that the cover referred to and interior of the tube l the bod are electrically of the same poten The bottom of the furnace-bod rests upon tial, an there ,is no reason'why thewvater a refractoryinsulating-ring 60,0 asbestos or cannot ass thr'oughthem in series. The 25 r'nice. which is of the same diameter as the case Wity the bottom Water-jacket is differ- 9o adjacent parts, so that a rubber band 27 can ent, inasmuchas this is at a different potenbe slipped over to make an air-tight joint at tial from the body of the furnace and therethe lower end of the furnace. fore shoul not be` connected therewith The recess of utilizing the furnace thus dethrough a s', ort lengt 'of hose, which would 3o scribeciis substantiall as Follows: Thelower 've rise tgdtundesira electrolytic effects. 95

terminal is iirst place( upon a suitable supt is for'thlsreason that the jacket 7 is support, the insulating ring is ut in place, prlied thro h a separate pipe 59, leading the body of the furnace is set own upon the om the coc 54 to the inlet-tube 10, the waring, and the band 27' is snapped into fplaee. ter passing out through the-exit 11 which is 35 The terminal 3 is then inserted within the connected irf its turn the 'sewer 58 by a roo furnace from the top, and the material to be pipe'Gl. It might be thought rthat there isa heated is placed around between the termi water connection through the 4pipes 59 and nalB and the innerfurnace-wall. Then the 52 and the source ofY water-supply 50, the core 1 is held in place while more material to pipes 51 and 55 to the jacket of opposite po- 4o be heated is illled into the inner space of the tential. isobviously true; but the m5 furnace. By the accumulation of material length of the connections so great and the thus caused the core is held firmly in place, conductivity of practically pure water so low and the material is firmly Lpressed down after as not to pass any e lreciable current or give the furnace is nearly fille The terminal 2 rise teeny undesir` Y@ effects.

4 5 -is then ut in lace in the annuler space be- When the described-steps here been cnr- 11 tween. t e sai terminal, and the inner furried out and the vacuum has rbeen esta nace-well is filled with more material. Then lished, current ,is passed through the furnace the terminal 4 with its watenjacket is put in by way of contactfplate 13 metallic terminal place, the screws 17 being retracted some to 5, terminai blookgeorihterhlinal blodk 2,

5o allow the full weight of the terminal to fall metallic termina1l.4,'n the copper, termi .1x5

upon the block 2. After snapping the rub nalr14. I ber band 20 into osition the screws 17 are `In the .furnace which lhave constructed a turned down unti they just rest upon ..the drop of from eight to' ten volts with u ,curbrackets 19. The air between thepharticlesV rent of about four hundred 'am eres isvused A1 55 ofthe material to be heated is now ex austed the core b ing one-halfvinchj'ip iameter an no through the tube 25. the weiht of the atmoseight inch sifn le h; but rirteally difierpliere upon the terminal 4 eing carried by Aent' diameters an(` lenths of core and the screws '18, 4so thatno cat y-incrcased currents of different .iaraeteriatics can be pressure is brought u on t ie-core l. j used with corresponding-differences in the 6e explains a {u nctiorio` thescrewsu?, inthe .product and 'speedof joperation. When :z5

l degli which the, atmospheric .pressure coresoflarger 'darneterareto b1 used, it is-well wo d .ausethe cure. 1` as soon as' it to make them hollowpoas toincrease their re- Y beeomsfery hot.. that the sistance andpro erly control the ilowcf cur- Qdgfsgibt-istructilrerroyirl y or e'hunxme rent. When 'ho low. cores are used, one vor ,6 narticulat conmhling vessel hav-f. linore ventsfniustbeprovidedto allow the in- 1, y. i ,A l A 1. f r` l eluded air tobe preferably made c he vents :may be dispensed with, however;

l the external connections at 13 of mica orlother chamber of thefurnaca the Ailminped out. This vent is ose to one of the terminals.

and the pumping o ration may be relie upon not only to ex ust the anfrom the Vinterior of the core, but also yto withdraw the major portion of the gases occluded in the Y phitelor carbon constituting the core. In Fig. 2 I vshow' what seems to be the simplest i'ioseilvle'r construction for a furnace of this sort. The core is shownat 1, the refracto terminals at 2 and 3, the' metallic termin s at L` and 5, thelatterconstituting in this instance, together with the insulating-ring 6G, good'in'sulatng material, the ump connecf current at 31,

andM. I claim asmy inventionl. An airti ht electric furnace having cool ortion's o an articulatedcontaini tion shown at 36,'the source o vesse interposed betveentlie highly-heats ace interior and al1-:exterior seal or seals. An inclosed electric'urnace having Van articulated container with at least'one insuv lated joint separatingporticns of the container serving as furnace-electrodes.

3. An electric furnace having metallic terminals so shaped that in conjunction with an insulating-partition, 'they constitute a' containin vessel for said furnace. '4 n an electric furnace, a refractory heat'- ing conductor and terminals therefor, the

1 shape of the abutting surfaces of said con` its terminals being.

ductor and at leas't one of confoimably rounded.

5. In an electrical a paratus, a pair of contactin electricalcondhctors having calotte-A shape contact-surfaces. p

6. 1n an electrical apparatus, a pair of corating'graphitccon uctors havingcalotteaped contact-surfaces.

7. In an electric i'irnace, a heating-condoctor of carbon, carbon terminals contact ing with o posite ends of said heating-cone-V ductor an metal terminals conteo with he end surfaces of said vcarbon termin ,and means lfor appl in gapressure to the said metal terminals, st at l the said parts are heid p in position thereby.

8. An ain-tight electric furnace 'for performing heatinoperations under reduced gaf.' Pl'ssmei tainer with joints with seals adapted to be tightened by the excess of external pressure.

9. Inan electric furnace, a container of' rounded or prismatic section, a smaller conforming portion articular.' therewith, and a seal clasping both articulatmg ortens.

10. A three-part container or an' electric Tumaco, consist" of two large metal parte act` as electrica connections between the interior and the cxterioi-Eortions of the furnace-circuit, together wit a relatively small' `insulating part mechanically joining, but

chamber,

ving an articulated e011-,A

` relie 1i. An electric furnace having e Ysuitable vmeans for articulatingand sealing the said chamber, .means for waterfcooiing the chamber, and means for creating a vacnum within the chamber. Y

12. An electric furnace having a suitable Vchamber, a refractory conductingecore centrally osed tnereimconductin -terminals connecte with the said coroll an means for creating a vacuum in the space between the core l.andthe chamber-Walls. r

13.' In an electric furnace, a suitable chamber, a core centrally disposedtherein, terminal conducting-pieces for connecting the said core withan external circuit, and means for creating a vacuum in. the space between the coro and the chamber-walls.

14. In an electric furnace, 4a suitable charnber, a core arran ed within the saine the ends of the said core icing curved or rounded, in combination with terminal blocks having contact-surfaces conformably curved or rounded. c

15. In' an electric furnace, a suitable chainbcr, a' core `of graphite or other refractory conducting material, the ends of the said core being" curved or rounded, in combination with terminal blocks of similar refractory material engaging with the nds of the core and havin contact-surfaces similarly curved or rounds metal blocks engaging with the said terminal blocks, and provided virith means for connection with an electric circuit. li An electric furnace having a suitable chamber, a core centrally disposed therein, a

'conducting-support for the said core, a con# duct terminal block adapted to press uponle end of the core, and means for relievng the pressure of the said terminal connection. E

17.45.11 electric furnace having a suitable chamber, a corecentrelly disposed therein, a conducting-support for the said core, a conducti terminal .block adapted to press n on t e end of the core, meansfor relieving t e pressure of the said terinnai connection, and means for sealing the chamber. 18. An electric furnace having a suitable chamber, a core centrally disposed therein, a conducting-support for the said core, a weighted conducting terminal block adapted to press 'upon the end of the cone, means for the pressure of the said' terminal connection, means for sealing the chamber, and means f or creating a vacuum in the chamber.

19. In an electric furnace, a suitable chamber, a cap for the said furnace carrying conducting-terminals` and provided with a dependin sleeve adapted to slip over and surround t esaid chamber in combination with a sealiig-band surreali' the joint between the sai chamber and the said sleeve.

IOO

IIO

20. ln an electric lumace, a suitable chamber liaviner double Walle` for providing a water-cooling space, inlet and outlet tubes leading to'anil from tln` water-space, and a, tube reonnectin named tuve being adapted to be connected with .a snitahle vacuum-pump. V

' 2h Inan electric furnace, a suitable charnlier an independent insulated walls thereof, a cap covcringthe to of the said chamber, `and means for sea ing the joints between t'hc chamber and its support at one curl and the chamber and its cap at theothcri-.nrl A ,i

22. In an electric furnace, a-suitable chamber, an independent insulated support forthe walls of the said chamber, a central me',- tallic terminal, and a refractory conducting block within the chamber, covering the said metallic terminal anti making contact there with.

23. In an' electric furnace, a suitablecharnber, an ingulatcd support for\the walls thercof, a central metallic terminal in the said sup.

port, a core of refractory conductin material Within the chamber, terminal boeks of refractory 'conducting material for the said core, a cap for the said chamber carrying a metallic terminal in contact with one ofthe `said blocks, the said metallic terminal being with the chamber, the said last.

support for theA water-jackets for the sai metallic and for the furnace-chamber, and means 0r connecting the terminal, with an electric citcuit. 35 24. In an electric furnace', a suitable chain ber, a hollow core within the same, means'for creating a vacuum within thechamber, and aV vent connecting the-interior of the coreA with the chamber.

25. In `an electric furnace, an air-tight chamber, consistin in part of an impel'ous packin l clamped etween thin metal 'p0rtions o said chamber, the Said metal portions being water-cooled wherever they ad- 'join the Said packing.

26. In an electric furnace, a containing# chamber of two or more parts separated by- A' insulating or packing material, 4said constit ent parts of said chamber being water-cooled 5 where they adjoin said insulating 0r packing material. f

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, ami State offNeWY York this l'5th`day of July A D. 1903.

HENRY NOEL rcTTER.

centrally located with res ecrl to tnesdid my Witnesses:

WM. H. CAPEL,

Tiros. H. BROWN, Jr. 

